Combined cap valve and cream separator for milk bottles



Feb. 23, 1937. G. .1. OQERMYE I 2,071,565

COMBINED CAP VALVE AND CREAM SEPARATOR FOR MILK BOTTLES Fild Aug. 22, 1934 I 35mm Ovenrnyeh Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CAP VALVE AND CREAM SEPARATOR FOR MILK BOTTLES 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for milk bottles which not only serves as a closure for the bottle but also acts as a means whereby the top cream can be separated from the balance of the contents in an effective manner.

A further object is to provide a device of this character the cap portion of which can be adjusted to control the flow of fluid from the bottle.

A still further object is to utilize the device as a tool for removing the paper disk caps usually provided on milk bottles.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which is simple and durable in construction and can readily be applied to or removed from a bottle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a section through the neck portion of a milk bottle to which the device has been applied, portions of the said device being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1, showing the position of the parts during the removal of the top cream from the bottle.

Figure 3 shows one end portion of the device in use as a tool for removing a paper disk from a bottle.

Figure 4 is a section through the upper portion of a modified form of the structure.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure 4, a portion being broken away.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a disk formed preferably of a thin sheet of resilient metal or other resilient material the diameter of which is equal to the internal diameter of a bottle B at a point on its shoulder adjacent to the bottom level of the top cream to be found in the bottle. At this point the diameter is greater than the internal diameter of the neck as is apparent by referring to Figures 1 and 2. To the center portion of disk I is connected an arcuate strap 2 the ends of which are anchored in the disk as shown at 3. This strap is pivotally engaged by an eye 4 which cooperates with the strap to form a hinge connection between the disk and a stem 5 extending from the eye. A conical spring 6 extends around the hinge connection and bears at its base or large end upon disk I so as to hold the stem 5 normally substantially perpendicular to the disk. The spring is held under compression by studs 1 extending from the stem and engaging the upper or small end of the spring.

That end of the rod remote from the disk 1 is shaped to provide a handle 8 and spaced downwardly from this handle are one or more lugs 9.

Slidably mounted on the stem between the lugs 9 and the handle 8 is disk 10 constituting a bottle cap and interposed between this disk and the handle is a spring i I which acts to press the disk I ll normally in the direction of lugs 9.

Normally disk ID is held against lugs 9 and stem 5 is perpendicular to disk I. When it is desired to remove a paper disk or cap C from the mouth portion of a bottle B, the said disk I is swung into position substantially parallel with stem 5 as shown in Figure 3 and is then bent transversely to form a channelled or scoop-like prying blade which can be inserted into the bottle and forced into engagement with the edge of cap C. The cap can thus be pried out of the bottle and thereafter the disk I, while still bowed transversely is inserted downwardly into the neck of the bottle until it reaches a point which is of a diameter equal to the diameter of the disk. Here the disk will flatten out automatically and the spring 6 will bring it into a plane at right angles to the stem 5. During the insertion of the disk I the disk I0 is brought against the open end of the bottle so that when disk I continues to move downwardly, spring II is placed under increased compression. When disk I finally flattens out as before explained, the disk II! is at that time seated against the end of the bottle. Thus when the handle 8 is released following the flattening of disk I, the top cream contained in the neck portion of the bottle will be confined between the two disks both of which will be clamped firmly against the adjacent surfaces of the bottle by the action of spring ll.

When it is desired to remove the cream the bottle is tilted as in Figure 2 and the disk II! which acts as a closure for the bottle is slid out of normal position so as to provide an outlet opening for the cream. After a desired amount of cream has been withdrawn the disk I0 can be restored to closing position.

To remove the device from the bottle it is merely necessary to depress the handle at an angle to force the disk I against the bottle wall until the disk is partially folded against the stem. The disk is then pulled outwardly with sufficient force to buckle disk I transversely whereupon it will slide out of the bottle in the form of a scoop such as shown in Figure 3. 1

Instead of providing a disk to be slid into and out of closing position as shown at II] in Figures 1 and 2, a modified form of closure can be used as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. This closure includes a lower disk I2 which can be shaped to fit the mouth of the bottle as indicated at I3 and has a segmental opening I4. Mounted for rotation on the stem I5 is a cut-off disk I6 provided with an arcuate recess IT at its margin. By means of a finger piece I8 on disk I6, said disk can be rotated to bring the recess I'I into regisher with opening I 4 so as to allow the contents of the bottle to be poured therefrom. Spring I 9, which corresponds with spring I I, acts to hold the two disks pressed together and to maintain disk I2 in contact with the bottle.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly connected to one end thereof, a closure disk slidably mounted on the stem and slidable with resilient frictional contact on the top of and across the mouth of a bottle to which the device is applied to uncover and recover a portion of the mouth of the bottle, thereby to constitute a pouring control valve, and a spring on the stem and bearing against the closure disk for holding both disks in frictional contact with diiferent portions of a bottle to which the device is applied.

2. A device of the class described including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly connected to one end thereof, a'conical spring bearing against the resilient disk for yieldingly maintaining the stem normally perpendicular to the disk, a cap disk slidable-on the stem, and resilient means engaging the cap disk for maintaining the two disks in frictional engagement with spaced portions of a bottle to which the device is applied.

3. A device of the class described including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly connected to one end of the stem and of a diameter greater than the smallest internal diameter of a bottle neck to which the device is to be applied, said disk being foldable about the stem for insertion into a bottle neck, and resilient means mounted on the stem and bearing with resilient frictional contact against the disk for holding the stem normally perpendicular to the disk.

4. -A device of the class described including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly connected to one end of the stem and foldable for insertion into the neck portion of a bottle, resilient means bearing frictionally against the resilient disk to maintain the stem normally perpendicular to said disk, a cap disk slidable on the stem to space itself automatically from the resilient disk and resilient means engaging the cap disk for holding the two disks in frictional engagement respectively with the inner surface of the shoulder portion and the outer top surface of the mouth portion of a bottle, said cap disk comprising an apertured disk and a rotatable disk bearing thereon having a recess movable into and out of register with the aperture.

5. A device of the class described including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly connected to one end of the stem and of a diameter greater than the smallest internal diameter of a bottle neck to which the device is to be applied, said disk being foldable about the stem for insertion into a bottle neck, cover means on the stem for closing and opening the mouth of the bottle at will to control the pouring of the bottle contents,

and further means on the stem acting upon the cover means, to cause the resilient disk and said cover means to cooperate in engaging the inner shoulder surface and the outer top surface of the bottle in such a manner that the cover means can be operated as an opening and closing valve without disturbing the engagement of the cooperating resilient disk.

6. A device of the class described for application to bottles of different neck depths, including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly carried on the end thereby, a cap disk on the stem and normally covering the entire top of the bottle and slidable frictionally across the bottle top to open and close a portion of the mouth of the bottle and shiftable to different positions relative to the other disk to adapt the device to the diameter and neck depth of bottles of different proportions, and means on the stem and bearing frictionally against the resilient disk for yieldingly holding the resilient disk normally at right angles to the stem.

7. A device of the class described for application to bottles of different neck depths, including a stem, a resilient disk hingedly connected to one end of the stem and foldable for insertion into the neck portion of a bottle, a cap disk slidable on the stem, resilient means engaging the cap disk for holding the two disks in frictional engagement respectively with the inner surface of the shoulder portion of the bottle and the outer extremity of the mouth portion of said bottle, said cap disk being slidable across the mouth of the bottle to open and to close the mouth and constitute a pouring control valve, and a spring on the stem and bearing against the resilient disk for holding the stem normally perpendicular to said disk and for holding the cap disk yieldingly normally in closed position.

GEORGE J. OVERMYER. 

